As proprietor of women’s apparel and lifestyle shop Babel Fair, Erica Kiang jet sets to far-flung locales, scooping up the latest and greatest looks from the streets-way before they hit any stores. This past summer she told PAPERMAG what caught her eye in Barcelona, and today she shares the goods from Seoul. Check it out:

Seoul Fashion Week just wrapped, having presented the best Korean designers to international buyers and press for the tenth year running. True to Asia’s reputation as a trendsetting terrain, the talent at SFW proved to be innovative and inspired. Here’s who sizzled, what they showed and why it was hot:

WHO: pushBUTTON
WHAT: Quirky fun line by Seung Gun-Park
WHY IT WAS HOT: Without any formal fashion education, Park’s lighthearted line has become a Korean celebrity fave. Tiny puff balls, loose silhouettes, and lots of fringe demonstrated Park’s knack for creating the impossibly cute. A+ for the scarf pants, too.

WHO: Imseonoc
WHAT: Wearable fashion juxtaposed with progressive pieces
WHY IT WAS HOT: Featuring a dueling pianist and DJ booming techno beats, this show was one of the most interesting of the week. The music reflected the contrasting fashion vibes: a classic buttondown followed by a futuristic dress, for example. The finale wowed with the pianist softly singing “When the Saints Go Marching in” as a model sashayed down the runway in a plastic bubble cape.
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